Far Enough

Australian punk trio Cable Ties was born out of fury, founded by singer/guitarist/lyricist Jenny McKechnie as an outlet for her songs of personal and political rage. The bands approach to punk incorporated the loud, fast aggression but also drew songs into longer, simmering arrangements. On second album Far Enough, McKenchies anger boils but it also has moments of quieter, more thoughtful bubbling, revealing a deeper emotional palette than righteous indignation, as well as a musical depth that reaches beyond punks quick-burning bombast. Uptempo blasts like Sandcastles, Tell Them Where to Go, and Self-Made Man linger, taking fuzzy bass, fast drums, and snarling guitar tones outside of compact punk structures and adding just a touch of dive bar attitude not too far off from early AC/DC. McKenchies powerful vocals drive the songs, which confront capitalism, misogyny in male-dominated music scenes, and the ugliness of greed. The seven-minute-long Angers Not Enough slowly builds from quiet ambient droning to a steady, rolling groove. Its sharp and propulsive, growing into one of the albums fiercest pieces as it burns into a crescendo before fading out with wailing feedback. Cable Ties most interesting songs are the ones that strike the balance between rage and vulnerability. Album-opener Hope begins with spare guitar and McKenchie singing from a place of personal struggling, fighting with her family about politics, and trying to survive in a capitalist system. The song erupts into a full band burner, charged with the duality of hope and despair that daily life brings. At its loudest and most brash, the album is fun and cathartic on par with any good high-energy rock band. In the moments when punk vitriol meets reflective, thoughtful expression, Far Enough grows more intriguing and compelling. ~ Fred Thomas